Saturday Tour

Needing a long walk, I headed down to Rondeau Park first thing this morning. There was not much to look at really--just the usual breeding birds and a few butterflies. South Point Trail had a few butterflies, but Marsh Trail was dead in that department. Not sure why it was devoid of butterflies, but it has been a mediocre year for butterflies.

Quite a few Hobomok Skippers were along south point. I saw my first Viceroy of the year there. Only a few other common species were about.

A White-eyed Vireo was singing on south point as well as marsh trail.

Unquestionably a Question Mark

Different dragonflies were out, including a Halloween Pennant (above).

Next stop was Blenheim Lagoons. An out of season Tundra Swan was swimming around!

Summer Tundra Swan

There were a number of other things at the lagoons including a Least Sandpiper which would be a fall migrant (in June!). A couple of Moorhens were back in pond 5 which seemed unusual.

Before going home, I bypassed Wallaceburg and headed north to the conservation area.

I met John Lamey there and we found a Banded Hairstreak, then a Southern (Northern Oak) Hairstreak. John saw one there yesterday, even though I stopped there three times!

Banded Hairstreak

Southern (Northern Oak) Hairstreak

Nice to know that the hairstreaks are back. They are late this year, and perhaps there will not be as many as last year. Last year was exceptional!

Today's Butterflies

Red-spotted Purple

The weather today was very nice--just the right temperature and not a cloud in the sky. I had some free time today so I went looking for butterflies. The first one to greet me at Reid was a Red-spotted Purple.

A few firsts for the year were out: Great Spangled Fritillaries, Silvery Checkerspots, and some hairstreaks.

I saw Silvery Checkerspots at two locations. I stopped by Moore WMA later and saw them at a traditional spot there. Not many butterflies were there, unless you like European Skippers!

Silvery Checkerspot

A couple of Tiger Swallowtails were around, and one went through my yard today as well.

I saw the first hairstreaks of the season, even though they were not the ones I had hoped for! Yesterday Adam Hall reported a Coral Hairstreak near West Lorne, so I was not to be outdone by finding one today. They are my favourite. This is about as early as one will see them.

Just before I left Reid, I caught sight of a Banded Hairstreak. Soon there will be dozens of these on the milkweed which is just starting to come out.

I saw lots of the other common types of butterflies including some faded Hobomok Skippers, Common Ringlets, Clouded Sulphur, Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Little Wood Satyr, Cabbage White and Monarch.

Slow Sunday

It was supposed to be a nice sunny day, but as usual, the weather forecast was wrong. This is sounding like a broken record! I have not seen the sun yet today!
I stopped at a couple of CA's to walk through the damp grass. European Skippers are very plentiful now.

At Reid I have seen lots of moths. Perhaps it would be a good place to do a moth study. I don't know too many moths though. One unidentified moth below:



The Eight-spotted Forester is an easy one to know.

Eight-spotted Forester Moth

Among the butterflies, a fresh Eastern Comma was flying about. (There was also a Question Mark in the same area!).

Little Wood Satyrs are getting plentiful....

Anywhere one goes, you can see dead and dying Ash trees. No single tree or woodlot has been spared by this vorocious critter. They are everywhere. At McKeough CA, some sticky boards are up and they all have some of these metallic green bandits stuck to them. Last year you were hard-pressed to find the ash borer.

I still saw a couple of Hobomok Skippers. One different one was likely a Northern Broken-Dash (photo below).

Things are almost a week behind what they were a year ago. We need a dry spell!

Rainy Season

I guess you could call this the rainy season. We have been deluged with excessive rain recently. It is either too much or too little it seems! Too hot or too cold.....
I have been out a bit, but there are have been many other things going on. It has certainly been the busiest spring I have ever had. I finally had time to purchase a new car yesterday! I had been wanting to do this since January, but never found the time. The old car was due for some major expenses.

To say the least, it has not been too good for butterfly searching. Well...there are some Least Skippers anyway. The similar European Skipper is out in full force now.

Today while at a CA, I came across a Milk Snake. This is the first one I think I have seen around here. It was rather shy, and quickly slithered away into the woods.

My first Peck's Skipper of the year was nectaring on a shrub....

Little Wood Satyrs have been out for a while. Soon, the Eyed Browns will appear.

Lots of Silver-spotted Skippers are out, and a few Hobomok are still clinging to life. I saw my first Delaware Skipper of the year a few days ago.

Yesterday I saw a Giant Swallowtail that was rather small. Perhaps it was a Medium Swallowtail.

As well, my first Red-spotted Purple of the season was flying about. I think I had one pass through the yard today too.

Maybe tomorrow the weather will be more co-operative. The Southern Hairstreaks should be out anytime now! (I hope).

Some Gulls and Butterflies

I decided to head down to Point Pelee this morning for a change of pace. The weather was perfect today, unlike yesterday where the weather forecast was wrong once again. It was simply a nice day to be out!
From Shuster Trail, I walked down East Beach to the Tip. There were lots of gulls along the way (mostly Bonaparte's). At one point, I heard the sound of a Little Gull and then saw two individuals on the beach. One was an adult, while the other was a first summer. Here is a series of photos:

Three Horned Grebes swimming on the lake in the same area were nice to see for this time of year.

The only butterflies I saw were several Summer Azures and two Spicebush Swallowtails.

At the Tip, there were quite a few gulls, but nothing unusual.

I then headed up West Beach Trail. Not too many butterflies, but other species included Tiger Swallowtail, Orange Sulphur, Orange Crescent, Little Wood Satyr, Question Mark and Monarch.

At De Laurier I noted a couple of Silver-spotted Skippers and two or three more Monarchs at the weather station.

Nothing else of note, but it was just nice to be out!

Evening Stroll

Managed to get out after supper for some fresh air at Reid CA. Many butterflies were out. Juvenal's Duskywings are very worn. Northern Crescents are out in big numbers. Least Skippers are out as well. Not included in the photos, but seen today, were Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral, Summer Azure.
Regarding birds, I heard a Yellow-throated Vireo singing as well as a Red-eyed. A Tufted Titmouse was nearby, and a pair of Indigo Buntings were chipping away.
Here are some photos:

Orange Sulphur (white form)

Northern Crescent


Hobomok Skipper

Common Ringlet

Silver-spotted Skipper

Juvenal's Duskywing

My Dad

Al in the Van-Craft which I restored for him

Nature will take a back seat this week as I remember my father. Alan Frank Mann died peacefully this morning here in Wallaceburg.

He inspired me to do many things and achieve my goals in life. My other passion, boats, was a direct result of his influence.

He always asked me what he saw on my outings, and recently as Sunday May 24, he asked what I saw at Point Pelee.

His favourite birds were orioles and tanagers and he always told me about seeing them when he came back from golfing.

He did so much for the community, there is not enough space here to tell you about it.

It was tough dealing with his illness the last few weeks, but he put up a good fight right to the end.

I will miss you Dad!